Services

Phoenix bring the points back over the Pennines

MANCHESTER Phoenix completed the league series against bitter rivals Sheffield Steeldogs with a 3-2 road win and a 4-2 overall win in the series.

Phoenix were again missing Liam Chong and the Dogs were without Lewis Bell.

The first period was played at a good pace by both sides and Greg Wood had the first chance of the match but he fired into Stephen Fone’s pads.

Frankie Bakrlik had a shot from the blue line saved by Sedlar before Phoenix hit penalty trouble around the 12 minute mark. Robin Kovar was sitting out a tripping call when Robert Schnabel was dispatched on a hooking minor.

Phoenix comfortably saw out the long penalty and regained the initiative with a great chance from Tony Hand.

The Dogs took the lead on 17 minutes when a Korhon shot was padded out front by Fone and Ben Morgan was on the spot to place the puck wide of the netminder for 1-0.

Phoenix took control of the early stages of the second period and got their reward after 23 minutes with a power play goal.

Robin Kovar released Tony Hand in space on the right and with the Phoenix crowd screaming at him to shoot, he calmly split the Dogs’ defence with a pass to Michal Psurny who wristed a beaut past Sedlar for the equaliser.

Both sides were creating chances and the Dogs regained the lead with just less than three minutes left. Korhon shot at Fone and the resultant rebound was swept home by Andy Hirst.

At the end of 40 minutes of end to end hockey, the home side took a narrow advantage into the final session.

Phoenix came out strong in the third and pinned the Steeldogs back in their own zone for long periods.

Resolute defending by the home side, limited quality chances for the visitors.

A deserved equaliser came on 49 minutes with Robin Kovar all alone at the back post to take an Andy McKinney pass to pick his spot for 2-2.

The Phoenix power play unit came up trumps with just 46 seconds left on the clock after a frantic scramble in front of Sedlar’s net resulted in Phoenix skipper Luke Boothroyd being first to react to poke home the winner.

Steeldogs’ Ben Morgan was more than a tad incensed that the goal was given and he picked up a 10 minute abuse penalty for his troubles.

Steeldogs pulled their netminder in the final stages to try to force the equaliser but it was Phoenix who put the puck in the empty net with five seconds left.

However a coming together by Andre Payette and Robert Schnabel resulted in a penalty call, both players went to the box and the goal was washed out.

Tony Hand said after the game: “I thought we played well tonight and battled hard. Andre (Payette) has his team well organised and are in good form. I must say a big thank you to the Phoenix fans tonight. They were tremendous and it is a great boost to see so many travel on a Friday night to support the team.”

Ipsoregulated

This website and associated newspapers adhere to the Independent Press Standards Organisation's Editors' Code of Practice. If you have a complaint about the editorial content which relates to inaccuracy or intrusion, then please contact the editor here. If you are dissatisfied with the response provided you can contact IPSO here